Winnebago Tribe, Omaha Tribe work to improve Iowa facilities

Monday, March 28, 2011  

The Winnebago Tribe and the Omaha Tribe are working to improve their gaming facilities in Iowa.

The Winnebago Tribe recently completed a $3 million renovation of the WinnaVegas Casino, which opened 19 years ago. A 78-room hotel is scheduled to open this November.

"We felt we needed to update our property, like any good business owner does, from time to time,” marketing director Deana Whistler told The Sioux City Journal.

The Omaha Tribe recently reopened the CasinOmaha after it was closed for 14 months due to financial and regulatory issues. The tribe still has some money and legal problems -- including a sovereign immunity case it lost last week -- but says it's getting back on track and will turn a profit in about a year.

“It was here all along,” CEO Bill Walsh, Sr. told the paper. “It was just a matter of getting it together.”

Class III gaming is legal in Iowa.

Get the Story:
WinnaVegas begins upgrade of facilities (The Sioux City Journal 3/27)
CasinOmaha reopens with new focus (The Sioux City Journal 3/27)
Court: CasinOmaha contractor can proceed with lawsuit against tribe (The Sioux City Journal 3/26)

Nebraska Supreme Court Decision:
StoreVisions v. Omaha Tribe (March 25, 2011)

Related Stories:
Nebraska court rules Omaha Tribe can be sued for casino work (3/25)